SANDWICH--Father Donald D. DeSalvo died here Feb. 28 at the age of 80.
Father was born March 21, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois, to Dominic and Virginia (Wawrzyniak) DeSalvo.
Father DeSalvo attended high school at Blue Island High School in Oak Lawn, Thornton Junior College, Harvey, and Chicago Medical Technology School, Chicago, where he completed studies to become a medical technician. He worked in two hospitals and, when inducted into the army, was a medic at Irwin Army Hospital in Fort Riley, Kan. He then attended the Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Mass., where he completed studies for the priesthood. He was ordained May 10, 1969 by Bishop Arthur J. O’Neill at St. Joseph Parish in Aurora.
After ordination Father DeSalvo’s first assignment was as Parochial Vicar at St. Laurence Parish, Elgin. He served as Parochial Vicar at St. Monica Parish, Carpentersville; Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Aurora; and, St. Therese Parish, Aurora. Father DeSalvo received training in clinical pastoral care at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and was a certified member of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. He served in clinical pastoral care at Lutheran General, Aurora, at Mercy Center Hospital, Aurora for 12 years beginning in 1975, and later became the director of pastoral care at St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin. He then was appointed Pastor of St. Mary Parish, Freeport and from there went on to serve as Chaplain at the Wheaton Franciscan Motherhouse and assisted at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Crystal Lake. He was appointed an advocate for the Diocesan Tribunal and assisted at Holy Family Parish, Rockford for one year and then in 1996 was appointed Pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Somonauk serving there until retiring March 1, 2007.
Father is predeceased by his parents, his sister Dorothy (Joe) Czapski, his brother Richard DeSalvo, his brother-in-law Norman Trinkle and his nephew Dominic DeSalvo. He is survived by his sister Lucille Trinkle and his brother David (Lynn) DeSalvo and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He also leaves behind many close friends.
Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, March 9, 2018 at 11 a.m. at St. Katharine Drexel Church, Sugar Grove, Illinois. Visitation will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8 at the church with rosary at 7:30 p.m. and visitation on March 9 will be held from 9 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the Mass. Private interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery in Justice, Ill. Arrangements are being completed by Turner-Eigner Funeral Home, Somonauk, Illinois.
